The Red Sea Boys of Eritrea on Wednesday suffered a 2-0 defeat to Uganda in their second game at the on-going CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup in Kampala, Uganda

Midfielder Nicolas Kasozi and Mustafa Kizza scored for the 14-time CECAFA Challenge Cup winners in the second half to guide the home team to their third win in the tournament and qualification for the semi final.

Kasozi scored after 58 minutes with a long shot that Eritrean goalkeeper Kibrom Solomun fumbled with before it rested in the net. Later after 80 minutes Micheal Habte handled the ball in the box and Kizza converted a penalty.

But the Eritrean team will have themselves to blame after dominating the match, but failing to get the goals. The Eritrean attackers kept the Uganda Cranes goalkeeper Joel Mutakubwa busy.

Skipper Robel Michael Tekle, Robel Kidane and Filmon Semere all had chances to score.

“We need to go back and plan well for our remaining games against Djibouti and Somalia. We played well against Uganda, but again finishing was our problem,” said Eritrea’s coach Haile Efrem Alemseghed.

Uganda’s coach Jonathan McKinstry praised the Eritrean team for dominating the game and pressing well. “Our opponents had smooth passing of the ball. But Football is about winning games,” added the Ugandan coach.

In an earlier Group A match Djibouti shocked Burundi 2-1 to keep their unbeaten run after two games. Eritrea will return to action on Friday against Djibouti before they take on Somalia in the last Group game on Sunday.

Group A table standing

                    P     W     D     L      GF     GA     A    Pts

Uganda      3      3      0      0      6        1       5     9

Djibouti      2      1      1      0      2       1       1      4

Eritrea        2      1      0      1      1       2      -1      3

Somalia      2      0      1      1       0      2      -2      1

Burundi 3 0 0 3 2 5 -3 0